Yimeng embroidery is the main representative of Shandong embroidery and an important component of the folk embroidery tradition in Yimeng. It is the essence of Yimeng folk embroidery, merging life and art into practical folk art. This craft is primarily distributed in the northern areas surrounding Mount Meng and the southern mountainous regions of Pingyi County in Shandong Province.
Yimeng embroidery has a long history. Based on existing physical evidence, it is directly linked to the “Dragon and Phoenix Presenting Auspiciousness, Wealth, and Peace” embroidered door curtains from the Tang Dynasty, showcasing over a thousand years of development. Up until the Republic of China period, Yimeng embroidery was still widely used in wedding embroidery, achieving extremely high levels of craftsmanship and creating exquisite artistic effects. It is said that “the embroidered butterfly can fly, and the embroidered flower can be smelled.” Different from the broad interpretations of embroidery in regions such as Huangmei, Huayao, Sichuan, and Hunan, which often use fabric warp and weft threads to embroider, Yimeng embroidery is performed on a foundational layer of flat embroidery, where a second layer of stitching is done using techniques such as threading, inserting, picking, and pressing. This process highlights the first layer of stitching, forming patterns that are textured and three-dimensional, resulting in a rich and colorful appearance that achieves extraordinary artistic effects.
The art of embroidery in Pingyi County has a long history, originating in the Sui and Tang Dynasties. It matured through the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties, reaching its peak during the late Qing and early Republic periods. It is mainly found in areas such as Pingyi Street, Zhongcun Town, Baotai Town, Liuyu Town, and Linjian Town. Traditionally, Yimeng embroidery has been practiced in a self-sufficient lifestyle, primarily for personal use by individuals or shared among neighbors, relatives, and family members, passing on love and kinship. Common themes include “Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl,” “Phoenix Through the Peony,” “Qilin Sending Children,” “Carp Leaping over the Dragon Gate,” “Lion Rolling the Embroidered Ball,” “Liu Hai Playing with a Toad,” “Wealth and Prosperity,” “Goldfish Playing in Lotus,” “Mandarin Ducks Playing on Lotus,” “Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars,” “Four Gentlemen Gathering,” “Eight Immortals,” “Pomegranate,” “Peach,” “Grapes,” “Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum,” expressing wishes for a happy marriage, many children, blessings, and longevity. Countless kind-hearted Yimeng embroiderers have quietly passed down this exquisite embroidery skill.
After 1949, the art of embroidery revived, giving rise to a large number of embroidery artisans, who began to bring their embroidered products to the market, selling them to nearby areas such as Mengyin, Xintai, Laiwu, and Tai’an. However, the elegance of this folk art nearly disappeared around the Cultural Revolution, leading to a significant gap in its development. Following the reform and opening-up, everything renewed and flourished. The younger generation, under the guidance of older artisans, took up embroidery needles, seeking to revive the brilliance of this ancient art form in the community. In March 2016, Yimeng embroidery was officially listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage by the Shandong Provincial Government and the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture.